Question for everyone with planted tank.

[Marx]

How many of you use a glass or plastic top on your planted tank?

i'm wondering if i should get glass covers for my 75gal tank..

im going 4x32w  48" T8 lamps..

and was concerned about evapouration and condensation. Also heat in my tank..

Thanks.. :wink:

[DARKPHREAK]

I have 5 40w 48" on my 75g with glass lids. If I were you I'd get some also. Running lights over open water is not good. The water may splash on the tubes and crack the glass. I have little or no evapouration.

[don]

I have no problems over driving my 4 lamps to 8 lamps over a glass top. The glass can take up to 500 degrees celsius or something ridiculously high. Never had any problems with condensation, providing there is some sort of ventilation.

[Marx]

My concern was with no glass lid.. and yhe evapouration in the canopy of lights..

also my Major concern was the temperature of the water with the  lights shinning threw the glass??

[zapisto]

My concern was with no glass lid.. and yhe evapouration in the canopy of lights..

also my Major concern was the temperature of the water with the  lights shinning threw the glass??

well without galass top , the evaporation level will reach the roof
i was burn with taht.
in my fishroom (about 50 tanks) i love my tank open with all sort of floating plant.
the downside , i lost 10 to 15% of the water every week  :cry:
now i cover them , and i can tell you i cann see the difference.


if your canopy is well aerated , no prob with temp

[Marx]

well doesn't the glass top  pretty much seal the tank?

i was thinking not to use the plastice splash gaurd on the back of the glass.. leave a 1" gap for heat to rise out?

would that work?

[zapisto]

well doesn't the glass top  pretty much seal the tank?

i was thinking not to use the plastice splash gaurd on the back of the glass.. leave a 1" gap for heat to rise out?

would that work?

i am not sealing the tanks in my case.
but with some crazy fish you have no choice try some killies you will understand.

other way to leave some space without any danger, is use a plastiqc screem on place of the plastic splash gaurd on the back of the glass

forget the the plexis , does not work as i want

[Marx]

well my lights will be mounted 2-1/2" off the top of the tank... and i heard T8's put off very little heat..  i will also have air holes in my canopy? would this be ok?

[zapisto]

well my lights will be mounted 2-1/2" off the top of the tank... and i heard T8's put off very little heat..  i will also have air holes in my canopy? would this be ok?

the best woulb add two computer fan
1 to put fresh air in the canopy
and 1 on the other side to remove the hot air

2 big benefit :

- raise the life of the tube
- down the temps and humidity inside the canopy

my 2 cents

[guest123]

I use a glass lid on both my aquariums 48 gal and 77 gal.  When I cleans my 48 gallon this weekend I did not put the glass lid back on, I was in a hurry.  The water is evaporating pretty fast.  I definetely suggest a lid for the evaporation.

As for the heat.  My tanks are fine.  I have 2*40 watt on the 48 gal and 4 *40 watt on the 77 gal.

[Marx]

Thanks!!